$50,000 of Catholic Money Donated to the LVVISC

The Catholic church in Las Vegas is partially funding the Industrial Areas Foundation, a group whose local branch calls itself the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC). The Industrial Areas Foundation is a politically active Alinskyian organization that promotes values in contradiction to Catholic teachings (see "Bishop Supports Questionable 'Interfaith' Group"). The financial support of our local church in funding this group is not rumor or an unfounded claim, but a fully verifiable fact.

This local IAF branch published a document stating that they are financially supported in part by local Catholic congregations (see document: Funding by local Catholic Congregations) as well as by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

While it is unknown at this time how much individual Las Vegas parishes have contributed to a cause that works against Holy Mother Church, we do know that according to the list of grants distributed by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) found on the USCCB website, $50, 000.00 has been donated to the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC) for the 2011-2012 year. 

One might imagine that the CCHD funding is simply a national grant that has nothing to do with the Diocese of Las Vegas. But in fact, the CCHD money could not have been obtained without the help from Deacon Tim O'Callaghan, Fr. Bob Stoeckig and with approval by Bishop Pepe.

Here are the roles they each played in securing funding for this local branch of the Industrial Areas Foundation:

Deacon Tim O'Callaghan - Deacon Tim is the CCHD Diocesan Coordinator for the Las Vegas Diocese - Area E. (Source: USCCB Website). Deacon Tim is assigned to St. Andrew in Boulder City alongside Fr. Stoeckig. The Diocesan Coordinator is responsible for reviewing the organization's application, completing an evaluation, conducting site visits, making the recommendation to the Bishop, and submitting the Bishop's endorsement to the CCHD. Please explore Deacon Tim's social action website for more information.
 
Fr. Bob Stoeckig - Fr. Stoeckig was extremely vocal in his support for the LVVISC, organized a delegation of St. Andrew parishioners to attend the rally, spoke at the rally, and disclosed in the St. Andrew bulletin that he is actually a member of the LVVISC. Common sense tells us that he, as the Catholic delegate to the LVVISC, would have be the person who directed the LVVISC to apply for the $50,000 CCHD grant.

Bishop Joseph Pepe - Bishop Pepe is responsible for reviewing the grant application, the recommendation of the Diocesan Director, and for giving final endorsement and approval for awarding the grant.

A description of the process and timeline for awarding grants can be found on the USCCB website link for the grant process.

For a more complete treatise on why the Industrial Areas Foundation is not consistent with Catholic teaching and for insight into the CCHD's historic role in funding the IAF, please review this article by CatholicCulture.org.

Among the reasons cited at the link above for questioning Catholic funding and support for the IAF are as follows:

"1. The principles of Saul Alinsky render any organization so grounded unfit for receipt of Catholic charitable money. As the IAF proceeds upon the principles of Saul Alinsky, the IAF should no longer receive CCHD grants.

2. The IAF is an institutional-based organization. Community organizing by religious institution, rather than by individual, is unjust and robs the dissenting individual of his dignity and right of conscience. As the IAF is an institutional-based organization, the IAF should no longer receive CCHD grants.

3. The IAF has a demonstrable relationship with the dissident organization Call to Action. Many points in the Call to Action agenda contradict Catholic teaching. This relationship between the IAF and Call to Action creates an example of material cooperation between a CCHD-funded organization and an organization, which is not in accord with Catholic teaching. Continued funding of the IAF, therefore, violates the 1998 Draft of Moral Guidelines for Funding by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development which states that "CCHD funds will not be used to support any project which is sponsored or promoted by an organization whose primary or substantial thrust is contrary to Catholic teaching, even if the project itself is in accord with Catholic teaching." Therefore, the IAF should no longer receive CCHD grants.

4. IAF activities in the area of education reform contradict Catholic teaching. IAF activities in the area of welfare reform also contradict Catholic teaching and subvert the work of its member parishes. Again, continued funding of the IAF violates the 1998 Draft of Moral Guidelines for Funding by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which states that, "CCHD funds will be used to support only projects that conform to Catholic teaching." Therefore, the IAF should no longer receive CCHD grants.

5. The IAF is engaged in partisan political activities. The use of churches by outside organizations, such as the IAF, to promote their own "progressive issues" is inimical to the dignity of the individual within the church who opposes that progressive agenda, and is inimical to his rights of conscience. Therefore, continued CCHD funding to the IAF is inappropriate.

6. The IAF has introduced theological distortions into a number of Catholic communities. Cessation of CCHD grants to the IAF would clarify that the IAF's theology is different from Catholic theology, is inappropriate for promulgation in Catholic communities, and disqualifies the IAF for such funding."

Call to Prayer:

Oh Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. We adore You and love You with all our heart. Teach us to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom we were created. Fill our hearts with a holy fear and a great love for Him. Help us to be prudent stewards of the blessings you have seen fit to bestow upon us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Bishop Says "No" to Nuns

A new Catholic grade school is opening in the 2012-2013 school year. St. Gabriel Catholic School will be starting with Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Fr. Marcus Gomori, Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church, had been planning on bringing in Roman Catholic nuns in full habit (the Dominican Sisters of Nashville) to teach the children and potentially establish a Mother House near the school.

But because they are Roman Catholic Sisters and not Eastern Rite Sisters under the authority of the Eparchy, Bishop Pepe's permission is necessary in order for them to function in Las Vegas.

Two trustworthy and credible sources have independently confirmed that Bishop Pepe refuses to give his permission for the Sisters to come to Las Vegas to teach. What has not been verified independently is the reason for his refusal, so at the moment it would be speculation to say why he won't give permission.

Unable to secure permission, Fr. Marcus will instead be contracting the Sisters of Saint Basil under the authority of the Eparchy of Van Nuys (independent from our local Bishop). It is hoped that in turn, the sisters themselves will eventually be able to hire the Dominican Sisters of Nashville - under the authority of the same Eparchy instead of the Bishop.

Interestingly, the Bishop's call for financial support of Catholic schools on the Diocesan home page this week makes reference to seven Catholic elementary schools (St. Gabriel would not be included in that number) and makes reference to the fact that students are no longer taught by Sisters. He states:

"Those of us, who have been afforded the opportunity of a Catholic elementary school education, are also aware of the changes that have occurred.  In the past most Catholic schools were the beneficiaries of very dedicated Sisters, Brothers, and Priests who regularly staffed both teaching and administrative positions, often with very limited compensation.  Today we gratefully depend upon the many professional people who devote their vocations as teachers and administrators to the needs of students and parents who still seek this excellent educational opportunity."

It bears mentioning that although it may be of a different Rite, St. Gabriel is also a Catholic school, fully in line with and under the authority of the Holy See.

Call to Prayer:

Eternal Father,
we praise you for sending your Son
to be one of us and to save us.
Look upon your people with mercy,
for we are divided in so many ways,
and give us the Spirit of Jesus to make us one in love.

We ask this gift, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.